The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Makelatind family. Their name comes from a devotion to St. Catan, a saint of whom little is known but who was revered throughout the west coast of Scotland between the islands of Bute and Skye. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Gille Chatain, which means son of St. Catan's servant.

Makelatind Early Origins

The surname Makelatind was first found in the area of Argyllshire on the Isle of Bute, and literally translated means the "servant of St. Catan," the patron saint of Bute, Skye, Colonsay, Gigha. St. Catan was said to have lived at the Abbey of Inchaffray on the isle of Skye.

Makelatind Spelling Variations

Makelatind Spelling Variations

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Makelatind has been recorded as McIlhatton, McElhatton, McElhatten, McGillecattan, McIlchattan, McHilhatton, Makelatyn, Macklehatton, McHatton and many more.

Makelatind Early History

Makelatind Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Makelatind research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1424, 1465, 1672, 1670 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Makelatind History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Makelatind Early Notables (pre 1700)

Makelatind Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Makelatind Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Makelatind In Ireland

Makelatind In Ireland

Some of the Makelatind family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Makelatind, or a variant listed above: James McElhatten settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1866; Arthur, Alexander, Cornelius, and John McIlhattan and McIlhatten settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1860 and 1866.

Skordas, Guest. Ed. The Early Settlers of Maryland an Index to Names or Immigrants Complied from Records of Land Patents 1633-1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. Print.

The Makelatind Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Makelatind Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.